Brad Pitt is known as 'Dabbo' in an Ethiopian village where he's become a father figure to kids hungry to learn - because locals are convinced he's called Bread.

The movie star, who has pumped his own cash into the village, was filmed during a recent trip to the place for TV news show "Primetime Live".

While walking down one of the makeshift streets in the shantytown on the show, which was aired Tuesday, kids ran up to greet their American hero, unaware of his superstar status and started chanting "Dabbo".

Pitt explained: "The last time I came here, they kept thinking I was saying 'Bread', and 'dabbo' means bread."

Pitt had taken US newswoman Diane Sawyer with him on the trip, reports celebrity portal Femalefirst.

Rocker Bono, who encouraged the movie star to get personally involved in the effort to help raise awareness about Africa's crippling problems, said: "Brad Pitt is a gigantic movie star but he's very modest... He said, 'I'd love to go to Africa.' People say things to you but they don't follow through. He's following through."

In an interview Pitt admitted he had taken life in America for granted for far too long and now feels compelled to help Africans.

He said: "I try to picture what the evenings are like there and I can't fathom it."